CLOSE compromised credit accounts immediately.
CONTACT one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion – and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports if someone steals your social security number (SSN).
MONITOR your credit report. Keep in mind that fraudulent activity may not show up right away.
CONSULT with your financial institution about handling the effects on bank or brokerage accounts.
CONTACT relevant government agencies to cancel and replace any stolen drivers licenses or other identification documents, and to "flag" your file. File a report with the proper authorities.
WATCH for signs of identity theft: late or missing bills, receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for, being denied credit or offered less favorable terms for no apparent reason, or getting contacted by debt collectors or others about purchases you didn't make.
TAKE CHARGE: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft is a publication from the Federal Trade Commission with detailed information regarding identity theft responses.
Once you've taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused. If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, as well. If another crime was committed – for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your house or car was broken into – report it to the police immediately.
If you've received spam that is phishing for information forward it to spam@uce.gov – and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. You may also report phishing to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team at phishing-report@us-cert.gov or to The Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The reported phishing emails help a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies fight phishing.
File a report with the Federal Trade Commission complaint assistant.
If you believe your identity has been stolen visit the FTC's identity theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft. While you can't completely control whether you will become a victim of identity theft, you can take some steps to minimize your risk.